Apple finally turns on the hidden temperature and humidity sensor in the HomePod Mini
The updated HomePod, which will replace the first-generation model as the company’s main smart speaker in 2023, was just unveiled by Apple. When it debuts in February, the gadget is sure to be a smash thanks to the S7 chipset, spatial audio, Matter compatibility, and a ton of sophisticated room-sensing technology. A temperature and humidity sensor will also be included. Oddly enough, the current HomePod Mini accomplishes the same thing, although Apple has just turned on the capability.
Apple had kept the temperature and humidity sensor off for years, but now that a new HomePod is about to be released, the firm has finally decided to turn the device on in its current line of Home Minis. Once the update is installed on your HomePod Mini, you can use it to check the temperature and humidity in your home and then use that information to set up different automation in Apple Home.
You might program your HomePod to turn on your fan or thermostat if it senses a certain temperature, for instance. It’s a small feature, but it should give you a little more freedom to design home automation without having to purchase an additional sensor. The iOS 16.3 update that was released today should enable the temperature/humidity sensor functionality in addition to bringing compatibility for the impending HomePod and a number of security-related changes. The operation of Emergency SOS calls and the usage of physical security keys as a component of two-factor authentication are both updated in this.
While the recently announced HomePod will be on sale for $299 on February 3, the HomePod Mini is now available for $99 today.